American Eventing Championships begins today in Texas

The national championship for the sport of three-day eventing will continue through Sunday, Sept. 29.

Laine Ashker and Anthony Patch, shown here at the 2012 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, are one of several well-known riders scheduled to compete at this week's USEA American Eventing Championships. Photo: Leslie Potter

For ten years, three-day eventers across the U.S. have aspired to qualify for and compete in the United States Eventing Association's American Eventing Championships (AEC). This year, the AEC will be held at the Texas Rose Horse Park in Tyler, Tex., about 100 miles east of Dallas. 2013 is the first of a three-year run for the AEC at this Texas venue.

While many high-profile events such as the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event attract only the biggest national and international riders on top horses, the AECs offer a shot at a national title for all eventers from beginner novice through advanced. Horses and riders qualify for the championship through their competition results during the preceding year.

Riders in the advanced division will be competing for the USEF National Open Horse Trial Championship and the Jack Le Goff trophy. Riders currently scheduled to compete in this division include some of the top names in the sport of eventing. Among those competitors are Rolex veterans Laine Ashker and Anthony Patch, Kristi Nunnink and R-Star, 2004 Olympic gold medalist Leslie Law with Zenith ISF, and Canadian Olympic team members Hawley Bennett-Awad and Gin & Juice, and Kyle Carter and Madison Park.

Riders aged 16 and under riding ponies 14.2 and under will compete for the Mark Phillips Pony Rider Award. This award is given to the highest placed pony in the beginner novice, novice and training divisions at the AEC.

Competitors with off-the-track Thoroughbreds can earn awards from the Thoroughbred Incentive Program (TIP). Special prizes will be given for the first- and second-place TIP-registered OTTBs in each division.

Watch highlights from the 2011 American Eventing Championships in the video below.

Competition begins today, September 26 with dressage rides for training through advanced. The Beginner novice and novice divisions will kick off on Friday. The training through advanced levels wrap up on Saturday with the awarding of the awarding of the Jack Le Goff Trophy, followed by a competitors' party. Beginner novice and novice will close out the competition with their show jumping phases on Sunday.

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